JPS6028362A - Control method of talking charge meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer a general-purpose talking charge meter independently entirely of an installing area by calculating the relation of distance between a reception side toll center and an outgoing side toll center stored in a data memory of the outgoing toll center and controlling the display of charge at a display section based on a charging table by distance. CONSTITUTION:A toll center 2 to which an outgoing side telephone set 1 belongs is coded, and the result is stored in an outgoing toll center data memory 14, the number of a reception side telephone set 4 transmitted from the outgoing side telephone set 1 is coded, the code of the reception side telephone set 4 and each toll center coded and arranged in an ROM in advance are compared at each individual code, and when the code of the reception side telephone set 4 is judged that the code is equal to or at a high-order to the toll center code in the ROM, the toll center is specified as the reception side toll center 3, further the relation of distance between the reception side toll center 3 and the outgoing side toll center 2 stored in the outgoing side toll center data memory 14 is clarified, and the charge required for talking is displayed to the display section 17 based on the charging table by distance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of controlling a call charge meter that calculates and displays the charge required for a call.

Many accommodation facilities, such as inns and hotels, have installed automatic rate management devices that instantly deduct the telephone call charges used by guests (the amount equivalent to the charges that should be paid to the Telephone Corporation as call charges). The charges are displayed or recorded so that guests can be billed for the charges when they check out, etc., without having to wait for a bill from the telephone office.

This type of charge management device can display the charge required for a call in real time, so some company offices are equipped with this device to check call charges and warn people against long phone calls. are also appearing.

Due to recent advances in electronic components becoming smaller, lighter and cheaper.

Call charge calculation devices have also become smaller and cheaper, and are installed in each telephone, allowing callers to manage their own call charges! Something that can do this has appeared, and this is a small one.

Due to its simplicity and low price, it is becoming popular in ordinary households. This type of device, which has become popular in ordinary households, is capable of not only simply calculating charges, but also memorizing the numbers of multiple callers with whom you frequently communicate, as well as simplifying operations such as a few push buttons. A so-called automatic dialing function that automatically sends the other party's telephone number, which consists of a total of nine or ten numbers (area code, local code, and subscriber number) to the telephone line, with a simple operation, and can also call the other party's telephone number. It is also easy to come up with a way to have both. It is also easy to handle so-called local calls that can be made without an area code using simple operations, as described above.

Now, regarding how to calculate the charges using the above-mentioned call charge meter, there is a method of using the call charge table published by the Telephone and Telephone Public Corporation or data related thereto. 1 of them
A telephone call charge table is a book called a telephone call charge table by area, which shows the number of times a call can be made at a unit charge for each center, the group to which the other party's telephone belongs, and the central office.

By the way, the call charge list by area shown here is created starting from the centralized stations installed in each area. Therefore, the call charge list by area is dedicated to each of the approximately 600 centralized stations.

There is no use value in different areas. Based on the premise that there are no or rare cases where a call rate meter has to change its central station due to the owner moving, etc., or there is no change in the rate, the design of the call rate meter should be based solely on the customer's needs. You can consider creating and supplying a dedicated device that stores data for the central station to which the telephone belongs. If a case such as moving or a change in charges occurs at a later date, it is theoretically possible to use the device at a new location or after the charge has been changed by rewriting only the billing data with the changed data.

However, if the system is designed and manufactured based on this policy, a storage device that stores billing data, that is, a call charge list for each destination, must be created for each central office.

I don't know about central station data, which is in high demand.

If it is from a central station where demand is low, the price will inevitably be high. In this case, it is possible to make the price of billing data uniform regardless of which central station it is, but it is difficult to set a low price because the data is at a central station where demand is low.

1. Once the fee structure changes, dedicated data for a large number of centralized stations must be managed for each destination.

It is almost impossible to supply them smoothly and simultaneously. In any case, it would probably be necessary to manufacture and supply dedicated equipment or dedicated data for each central station.

This requires a lot of effort in manufacturing management, inspection management, aftercare, and other aspects. However, data from all central stations is stored in a single charge meter.

It is not impossible to make it completely independent of the area of use, but since the total number of central stations is currently said to be just under 600, the total amount of billing data for each central station is enormous. , it is almost impossible to hope for smaller size and lower price.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems.

For all centralized stations throughout Japan, we provide centralized station identification data consisting of a combination of the appropriate leading digits of a series of numerical information consisting of area code, local area code, and subscriber number. Also, give data regarding the coordinates and adjacent areas for each centralized station, and check the distance between two talkers, that is, the distance relationship between the centralized stations to which the telephones of two-way talkers belong.9
Determine whether the two central stations are within the area, adjacent areas, or outside the area, check with the distance-based call rate list published by the Telephone and Telecommunications Public Corporation, and determine the corresponding rate relationship. Based on this information, charges according to the call time are calculated and displayed on the display device. By having coordinates and information on adjacent areas for all centralized stations as data,
It is now possible to calculate the distance relationship between the transmitting central station and the receiving central station, regardless of where the transmitting central station is, and it is now possible to calculate the distance relationship between the transmitting central station and the receiving central station. It is not a generic type at all.

At that time, the phone number sent from the calling phone, that is, the number of the receiving phone, is encoded, and the code of each central station, which is coded and organized in advance in the storage device, is coded as necessary to identify the central station. The coding is set to the minimum level so that the identification of the central station to which the microcomputer belongs is carried out without error based on the code of the above-mentioned receiving side telephone number.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When making a call to a so-called out-of-town area, including neighboring areas, the operation begins with dialing 0 without exception.

When a maximum of four dial numbers following 0 are known at random, the charge classification required for a call to the other party's phone is decided, as is already well known. For example, turn the dial to 0, 6, etc. −・
- If you call up the 23 wards in Tokyo, 0,4
,5. If you call Yokohama of Kanagawa system by operating , 0
, 4, 7.1... and call up the Chiba phase, then 0, 8.5, 6, 7... For example, when you call Tsuwano of the Shimane system by operating... The reason is that if the maximum number of 5 digits including 1 number 0 becomes clear, 9
This is because it is possible to identify all the centralized stations that exist all over Japan, and the coordinates of the centralized station to which the specified communication partner's phone belongs (hereinafter referred to as the receiving central station) and the side that makes the call. This is because it is possible to determine the distance between the calling and receiving stations based on the coordinates of the central station to which the telephone belongs (hereinafter referred to as the calling central station).

In one embodiment of the present invention, this point is also taken as the basis.
Specific numerical data, or codes, will be given to all of the nearly 600 centralized stations across Japan. The code is assigned by organizing the first five digits of the series of area code and local code for each central station.

An example of how to give the code will be explained below. For central stations in Sapporo, Hokkaido that begin with area code 011, 100 to 9 can be used as the local code following the area code.
Focusing on 100 as the lowest number out of 99, take out the first two digits 1 and 0 and continue with the above 011,
Give the code oii+o. The reason why only the first two digits of the available local office code are used is to make the central office code five digits including the first digit O.

Next, let's talk about the central stations in Tokyo's 23 wards starting with area code 06. In the case of Tokyo's 23 wards, io is the lowest number from 100 to 999 that can be used as a city code.
Focusing on o, in this case, use all the digits to
Next, give the central station code of 0 or 100. This means that the central station is coded with a five-digit numerical value including zero.

Next is the Kanagawa-based Yokohama central station starting with 045. In this case as well, 100~ can be used as the local area code.
Focusing on 100 as the lowest number out of 999, take out the first two digits of 10 and continue with the above 045,
Give the central station code 04510.

Next, let's talk about the Chiba prefectural minister's central office starting with 0471. The local area numbers that can be used within this area are 10 to 9.
9, so we focused on '10' as the minimum number, extracted the first 1, continued it to 0471 mentioned above, and set it to 0.
Give the central office code 4711. The reason why only the first digit of the usable local station number is used is because, as already explained, the central station is encoded as a five-digit number including 0.

Next is the Shimane-based Masuda central station starting with 08562. In this case, since the area code is all included in the five digits including O, this number is considered to be the minimum number and is used as the centralized station code.

Since each central station is given coordinates by its location,
This data is also added to the previous centralized station code as a series of data. Furthermore, since the majority of centralized stations have adjacent areas,
The data of this adjacent area is also added in the form of a code to the series of data of the above-mentioned central station code and coordinates.

Some of the data regarding the central stations obtained in this way can be expressed in a table.

This is the result in Table 1. Note that this Table 1 was created for convenience in order to explain the present invention.

In the present invention, the data contents of this Table 1 are as follows:
It is used as a data table.

The present invention further stores billing data for calls within one area, that is, data on the time (seconds) that can be made for a unit charge of 10 yen, billing data for calls within an adjacent area, and billing data for calls outside the area. The data table regarding call charges by distance is referred to as a second data table and utilized. The second data table in accordance with the current fee structure is shown in Table 2. Note that the seconds in parentheses are for nighttime discounts, Sunday and holiday discounts, and the seconds in parentheses are for late-night discounts.

Table 2 FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the call charge meter of the present invention, in which 1 is a telephone on the calling side, 2 is a central station that is the starting point for calculation of call charges and is on the calling side, and 5 is a central station on the receiving side. , 4
is the receiving phone. 5 is a telephone line coupling section, and 6 is a signal detection section. This signal detection section detects the state of the hook switch of the calling side telephone 1, the dial number of the communication partner, that is, the receiving side telephone 4, sent from the calling side telephone 1, the response signal of the receiving side telephone 4, that is, the polarity inversion signal, etc. It is something. 7 is a microcomputer that has a built-in control program for the entire system.

The signal detected by the signal detection section 6 described above is input.

A timer 8 provides a clock signal as a reference for the operation timing of the microcomputer 7, and is also used to measure time for charge calculation. A data bus line 9 mediates the transmission of signals between the microcomputer 7 and the storage devices io and ii, which will be described later. Storage device 1° is a read-only memo IJ (ROM).
), and 11 is a read/write memory (RAM).

Of the ROMs 10, 12 store the first data table shown in Table 1, and 13 store the second data table shown in Table 2. R.A.
14 of M11 are for storing the code of the originating central station 2, the coordinates, and data of the adjacent area, ie, the code of the adjacent central station. In this embodiment, this ROM+
In order to extract and store the part corresponding to the originating central station from among those written in the first data table of the ROM 12 as data to the ROM 12, the microcomputer 7 stores the transmitting central station data in order to carry out the procedure. An input section 16 is connected. 15 is call charge accumulation memory 2
It stores the integrated value of charges required for a call. A display section 17 displays the integrated value of charges required for one call.

FIGS. 2 and 2 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. . Of these, FIG. 2 explains the operation when necessary data is stored in the originating central station data memory 14 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 explains the operation as a toll meter. .

First, FIG. 2 will be explained. In 18 Stesoge.

The calling side centralized station data input unit 16 in FIG. Enter the number.

Then, in step 20, the leading 0 of the entered phone number is
Code the numerical value of the 4th digit cloth excluding , and read it as TN. Subsequently, in step 21, the address of the central station code in the first data table 12 in FIG. 1 is specified, and this is set as the N address. In the 22nd step, the central station code recorded at the designated N address is set as TC, and the process moves to the 5th step, the 23rd step. The 23rd step is the code TN set in the 20th step and the code T set in the 22nd step.
It is determined whether TC≦TN by comparing C. T.C.
If it is not ≦TN, respecify the address N of the next (another) central station code in step 24, return to step 22, and reset the central station code at that N address to TC.

TC and 2 at the specified N address again
The relationship between TNs set in 0 stepsoge is examined in 23 steps. This consideration step is sequentially repeated with 1 arriving at N addresses for which TC≦TN holds.

As this process is repeated, the relationship T9≦TN holds true.
When the address is reached, 5 judgment step 23 is skipped and stingy 2
Follow the 5 steps. In step 25, the central station code TCI stored at the N address reached, the coordinates of that central station, and the adjacent station code of that central station are retrieved, and this information is stored in the originating central station data memory 14 of the RAM 11. With this, the operation of storing the data of the originating central station in the memory is completed, so the function of the transmitting central station data input section 16 is turned off in 26 steps. Note that it is possible to notify the end of the process with a signal, light, or signal sound. This part is omitted in FIG.

This operation will be explained in accordance with the contents of Table 1. The number that has been input from the central station data input section 16 is D.
→ 4 → 4 → 5 → 5 → 6 → 6 → 7 → 7 Suppose it was arrogant 8. Then, the microcomputer 7 executes each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and records the central station code 4444, which establishes the relationship TC≦TN, t, k 7
The central station code for that address is "4".
444", coordinates "X9. Y9" and adjacent station data"5
3q1, 4881, 5631'' and stores the information in the oscillation side central station memo IJ14.

Next, the operation as a charge meter will be explained. At step 26, the handset of the calling telephone 1 in FIG. 1 is lifted to activate the hook switch.

Next, in step 27, operate the dial to enter the number of the telephone of the other party (receiving telephone 4 in FIG. 1), and set that number as A. 27 When all the numbers of the receiving phone are entered on the screen, one line is connected and the receiving phone 4 is connected.
After that, the handset of the receiving telephone 4 is lifted and the hook switch is activated.In step 28, a check is made to see if a reverse signal is generated due to the activation of the 7-knox switch on the receiving telephone 4. to decide. If it is determined in step 28 that the reverse signal is negative, the process moves to step 29 and 10 yen is displayed on the 1 display section 17. This amount of 10 yen is the unit charge of the current call rate system. In step 60, measurement of call time is started, and then judgment step 51 is executed. In this 61st step, it is determined whether the first number of the number A of the receiving side telephone set in the 27th step is 0 or not. If it is not O, it is an intra-area call, so the second call is made without proceeding to the 36th step or later. Select the 180 second section of the data table and start displaying the charges. If the first number A set in Step 27 is 0, then in Step 63, the numerical value of the fourth digit excluding the leading 0 is read as TD. In step <34, the address of the central station code in the first data table 12 in FIG. 1 is designated and set as the N address.

In the 35th step, the central station code recorded at the designated N address is set as TC, and the process moves to the secondary 36th step. In the 66th step, the code TD set in the 3rd step is compared with the code TC set in the 35th step, and it is determined whether TC≦TD. If TC≦TD, the address N of the next (another) central station code is respecified in step 37, and the address N is respecified again.
TC at address and TD set in 33 steps
Consider the relationship between This consideration step is sequentially repeated until reaching N addresses for which TC≦TD is satisfied. While repeating this process, when N addresses are reached where the relationship TC≦TD is established, the process passes through step 2, judgment step 66, and proceeds to step 38. and Xn2,
Set YB2. Subsequently, a secondary determination is made in step 9. That is, the adjacent area codes 'r''C2, Te3 in the data stored in the transmitting side central station data memory 14 in FIG. 1 as explained above with reference to FIG.
, . . . It is determined whether or not the code of the central station reached in 36 steps is included in TCn. If it is included, the 4o step is executed, that is, the charging data for calls within the adjacent area is retrieved from the second data table 16 in FIG. 1, and it is set as MT. followed by 4
In step 1, it is determined whether the call time measured in step 30 has reached the set call time MT in step 40, and if not, the process moves to step 42 to determine whether or not the call is in progress. View. In other words, one of the handsets on the receiving side is returned and the hook switch is activated.

It is determined whether or not the reverse signal has returned to its original state when the call is started, and if the reverse signal has not returned to its original state, the process returns to step 41 again and the call time is calculated as described above. Check whether it matches MT or not. When it is determined in step 41 that the energization time is -MT, the process moves to step 46 and the next 10 yen is added to the charge of 10 yen already displayed on the display section 17 to display 20 yen. Execute. After that, the process moves to step 44 and measurement of the call time is started again. In step 42, it is then determined whether the call is busy or not, and if no, as already mentioned, step 4
Return to step 1. When the handset and receiver are placed on both the calling and receiving phones, the hook switch is activated, the reverse signal returns to its original state, and the call ends, the process moves to step 45 and the total amount of call charges incurred up to that point is calculated. is stored in the call charge accumulation memory 15. After this, there is no need to calculate the fee, so the calculation function is turned off in 46 steps.

Now, the adjacent area codes TC2, Te3, . . . T in the data stored in the 1 originating central station data memory 14
If Cn does not contain the code of the central station reached in 36 steps, 47 steps are executed.

In this 47th step, the coordinates Xn1. Yn 1 and 6
Coordinates of the receiving side central station set in 8 steps Xn2.
Yn2 is calculated based on the Pythagorean theorem to determine the distance between the image centers, and this is set as D. In the following 48 steps, the distance data for out-of-area calls from the second data table 16 in FIG. 1 is called up.

The start address of data for each distance is designated as M.

In the 49th step, the distance data recorded at the specified M address is set as P, and the first 50 steps are executed.

At the 50th step, compare the data D set at the 47th step with the data P(!-) set at the 48th step, and
Determine whether ≦P. If the relationship D≦P does not hold, move to step 51 and reset the next (another) top address M, return to step 49, and set the distance data at the reset M address again as P. Then, in the next <50 steps, it is determined whether the relationship D≦P holds. If the relationship D≦P is satisfied, 52 steps are executed. In step 52, the billing data at the M address reached in step 9 is called up and set as MT.

Thereafter, in step 41, it is determined whether the elapsed call time has become equal to the billing data MT set above.
When the call time=MT, the process moves to step 46 and the next 10 yen is added to the call charge of 10 yen already displayed on the second display section 17 to display 20 yen. In step <44, measurement of the call time is restarted. The operations subsequent to step <42 are as described above.

In addition, as already mentioned, when the call time is determined in step 41, step 42 is executed when one call time is <MT.

This operation will be explained based on the contents of Tables 1 and 2. Assume that the handset of the calling side telephone 1 is lifted and the telephone number of the receiving side telephone 4 is transmitted. Assume that the numbers are 0→4→8→8→9→1→2→3→4→5. When the telephone line is connected and the handset of the receiving telephone 4 is lifted and a reverse signal is generated and detected, 10 yen is displayed on the display section 17. After that, the microcomputer 7 starts measuring the call time and starts with 0 from the beginning of the transmitted telephone number of the receiving party.
Read the 4-digit 4889 (TD) as a code.

Examine which collection or line in the first data table 12 this 4-digit data belongs to, and go to the address where the central station code ``4881'''', where the relationship TC≦TD is established, is recorded. Then, among the central station data of that address, the central station code °' 488 T ” and the coordinates “X8
．． Call Y8''.Then call the originating central station data memory 1.
The above-mentioned central station code' is included in the adjacent area code stored in 4.
4881'' is present or absent. In this case, since the receiving central station code "4881" exists in the adjacent area code stored in the calling central station data memory 14, it is determined that the call is within an adjacent area. , calls the second data table 13, that is, the charging data (80 seconds) for a call within an adjacent area in the charging table of Table 2, and calculates the charge based on the charging data (80 seconds).
10 yen is displayed on the display until 80 seconds after the start of the call, and 10 yen is added every time 80 seconds pass thereafter. This calculation is repeated until the call ends.

The current example was an example of a call within an adjacent area. Next, I will give an example of an out-of-area call. Assume that the telephone number sent from the calling central station is O→2→9→8→9→8→9→8→9→8. As already explained, after the handset of the receiving telephone 4 is hung up, it is determined which central station in the first data table the telephone belongs to, and
It goes to the address where the central station code '80' is recorded, and from there the central station code '2980' and the coordinates '
Xll and Yll''' are called in the same way.As is clear from the first table for explaining the first data table 12, the originating central station data memory stores data regarding the central station "4444''. 14 °'29
Since there is no data that is adjacent to 80''', it is determined that the receiving side concentrated station is outside the area, and the coordinates of the data regarding the single receiving and receiving concentrated stations are used to calculate the distance between the image concentrated stations. and calculate the distance of the second data table, i.e. the second
Determine which rank corresponds to the out-of-area call in the table,
For example, if the distance is 78 axes, 15 seconds is called as billing data. Then, charges are calculated based on this billing data (15 seconds). This calculation has already been explained.

Since one embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the central station (2) to which one calling side telephone (1) belongs is encoded and stored in the calling side central station data memory Q! The number of the receiving phone (4) which is stored in the calling phone (1) and transmitted from the calling phone (1) is encoded, and the code of the receiving phone (4) and the RO
Each centralized station coded and organized in M is compared for each individual code, and in this case, if the code of the receiving telephone (4) is equal to or higher than the centralized station code in the ROM. When it is determined, the central station is identified as the receiving central station (3), and the receiving central station (3) and the transmitting central station (2) stored in the transmitting central station data memory aΦ are identified.
), and the charge required for the call can be displayed on the display unit α based on the distance-based charging table.

As described above, according to the present invention, regardless of the central station to which the telephone to which the fee reduction device of the present invention is attached belongs, it can be used immediately by simply storing the code of the central station to which it belongs in the calling central station data memory before starting use. And - It is possible to provide a completely general-purpose call rate meter that does not depend on the installation area.

Also, even if there is a change in the fee structure, approximately 600
There is no need to prepare 0 types of dedicated data, and it can be handled by simply preparing one type of data.

It goes without saying that what has been described as one embodiment of the present invention is merely one embodiment, and many other examples are possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation when storing data in the originating central station data memory 14 in RAM, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation as a charge meter. It is. 1... Calling side telephone, 2 - Calling side central station. 3. Receiving side central station, 4- Receiving side telephone. 7. Microcomputer. 12...first data table, ' 16 second data table. 14 Calling side central station data memory, 17...Display section. Applicant: Hitachi Thermal Appliances Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a method for controlling a call charge meter that calculates and displays the charge required during a call, the central station (2) to which nine calling side telephones (1) belong is encoded in the calling side central station data memory. The number of the receiving side telephone is encoded and sent from the above-mentioned calling side telephone (1). Compare this encoded code with each centralized station that has been coded and organized in the ROM in order from the upper code,
At that time, when it is determined that the code of the receiving side telephone number is equal to or higher than the central station code in R'OM, the central station is identified as the receiving central station (3),
The distance relationship between the receiving centralized station (3) and the transmitting centralized station (2) stored in the transmitting centralized station data memory αψ is calculated, and the distance relationship is calculated on the display section α based on the distance-based charging table. A method of controlling a call charge meter that controls charge display.